Perfusion
-
We evaluate the affect on the hematocrit (Hct) drop and the amount of transfused red blood cells (RBCs) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in adult cardiac surgery patients due to minimizing the CPB circuit by using integrated components. ⋯ Minimizing our CPB circuit by using integrated components has affected the drop of Hct and the amount of transfused RBCs.
-
Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is an infrequent, but complicated, life-threatening condition. Given this poor outcome, an estimation of mortality would aid in decision making for physicians, patients and their families. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is reflective of systemic inflammation. RDW is a remarkable prognostic marker for determining the risk of mortality in a wide range of clinical manifestations. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between RDW and mortality in patients with AMI. ⋯ Increased RDW at admission was a predictor of the extent of necrosis and mortality in AMI patients. Further prospective studies are necessary to more accurately assess the importance of RDW in these patients.